How to visit Paricutin Volcano on a day trip from Uruapan, Mexico

Paricutin is the youngest volcano in the world, located in Michoacán, Mexico. It’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Paricutin offers the following points of interest for tourists and photographers;

Paricutin volcano (the youngest volcano in the world)

Ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro church

Horse ride to the volcano

Angahuan village (a small indian town)

Uruapan city

In 1943 a farmer was working in his fields when he felt a rumbling coming from nearby. The nearby ground had opened up and lava was seeping out. Throughout the following 11 years this new volcano was continuously erupting and growing until it finally reached a height of 424m. During this eruption period, the nearby town of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro was completely destroyed and covered in lava. This new volcano became Paricutin volcano, the youngest volcano on earth.

Paricutin Volcano, Mexico

Because Paricutin is only accessible by horseback, it’s likely you’ll be the only one at the site! For a traveler and photographer, there’s nothing better than being alone at a natural wonder of the world.

To get to Paricutin is no easy task, but a task worth the effort as the above photo shows. You can get to Uruapan by;

I stayed in the oldest hotel in Uruapan, Hotel Mi Solar for 2 nights which was perfect, there are quite a few hotels in Uruapan if Mi Solar doesn’t suite your needs.

From Uruapan, you can walk from the historic center to the main highway. From the highway, you’ll find buses which leave regularly to Los Reyes. This is the bus you need to take and tell the driver to stop at Angahuan village (maps.me comes in handy here). Once you get off the bus, walk towards the village and you’ll be approached about a horse ride to Paricutin. The price will be 300 pesos per horse and you must pay for the guides horse.

Be sure to stop off in town for some food before starting out as it’s a 2 hour horse ride to the base of the volcano.

Paricutin crater

The walk up the volcano is quite strenuous as you are walking on ash, it’s similar to walking on sand the way the path keeps giving way. You’ll be quite tired when you reach the top but as you brought some food and drink with you, you’ll be able to regain some energy before exploring around the crater. Are there any fans of Twinkies here? In Mexico you’ll find Submarinos which are very similar, I had a packet of these to help regain my energy after reaching the top!

The crater of Paricutin Volcano

This crater is smoking! You’ll pass many areas with lots of steam but don’t worry it’s an extinct volcano. You can actually walk down into the base of the crater, there’s a path you can take. Whilst walking down the crater you’ll probably be thinking to yourself, if this volcano is extinct why is it steaming?

Paricutin Volcano

If going up the volcano is strenuous, then coming down it is fun. There is a technique to descending a volcano, you must lean backwards whilst taking large steps sinking into the ash. You must descend as quickly as possible to give yourself the maximum amount of enjoyment!

When returning to Angahuan village, you’ll stop at the ruins of the San Juan Parangaricutiro church and village.

The church of Paricutin volcano

During the 9 year volcanic eruption from 1943 to 1952 the village of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro was completely destroyed. The church is the only building which is still visible above the lava, it’s quite fitting that the church survived the eruption. You are free to walk around the old village, which is now lava, so it’s perfect for photography.

The guide will take you back to Angahuan village where you can easily find a bus back to Uruapan. That’s how you visit the natural wonder of the world, Paricutin volcano.

46 Comments

Oh wow, this is such a fantastic story, I love the intro and history of how this volcano erupted! What a fascinating place to visit, I will need to get over my fear of travelling on horseback (don’t ask, it’s a ridiculous fear and I so need to get over myself lol) because I truly would love to do this – to be so remote and see something like this is a travellers dream. Thank you so much for sharing this place with us, I have pinned it for future reference. #feetdotravel

Love that you get to do this on horseback so that’s the next best thing to hiking. Great that it’s off the beaten path and no tourists, too cool! Amazing, the church survived the eruption kind of strange for sure. Would love to visit this, so thanks for sharing.

Yes, I am. I have seen Paricutin, Rio Harbor, Mt Everest and the Grand Canyon. I am just missing Victoria Falls, the Northern Lights and the Great Barrier Reef. The lights didn’t come out when I was in Alaska.

What an interesting post, James. Hard to believe that that volcano only came about in 1943 and already it stands at 424m. I’ve been in Mexico twice – Tijuana, when I was working in California. It was just a mad piss-up session back then, but I’ve always wanted to see the real mexico. Nice post – you learn something new everyday…

I really like your photos and the way you describe this trip! One question I have: Do you know if there’s any organised tour to this place? I’m a solo traveller but I don’t know how to ride a horse and have never visited a volcano before, so it’ll be better for me to go with a guide I think.

It looks like a great place to visit. I had never heard of this place when I was in Mexico. It must have been really interesting to see the volcano growing though not great if you lived in the village that was destroyed.

This reminds me of Taal Volcano of the Philippines! It has a crater and a lake enclosed within. Plus, it’s also a strenuous hike, but absolutely rewarding! I believe this kind of gems are worth the trip!

Thank you for posting this! We are planning to include Mexico to our World Trip next year. While we are not entirely sure yet were to stay, your post helps a lot, because our little one is absolutely crazy about volcanos and I am sure he would love to go there!

Wonderful experience and really interesting read!! I love your picture while walking over the caldera, it was not dangerous?! Anyway I have got a similar experiences during our trip in: Philippines, Lombok, Ecuador, Peru; the best one was in Lombok,Indonesia, climbing Gunung Rinjani in 3 days trek, wonderful experience! Anyway I have been to Taal Volcano, Philippines, the smallest active volcano in the world!! Thanks for sharing your experience, great pics too 😀

Its so interesting that volcanoes are still forming to this day. I’d never thought of visiting the youngest volcano but now I’m really curious. I think the horse ride there would be a great way to see the scenery too!

Very cool place to visit! I remember hearing about the story of the farmer and the volcano but didn’t know where it was. Is it really extinct or just dormant? The church in the lava must be quite an eerie sight.

The 7 Natural Wonders are one of my next goals I think, so another trip to Mexico may just be on the cards! Although me and volcanoes do have a bit of a tempestuous history- a failed attempt at climbing one in Peru and a kind of successful attempt in Guatemala where I thought my lungs were about to collapse. Walking on ash is so much effort!!! It’s the best when you get such beautiful scenery all to yourself!

Thanks for the bit of history on how the volcano came into existence. Definitely an exciting horseback adventure and having the volcano to yourself. It surely brought out the little boy in you going to the top and descending from it.

wonderful post and a quite spectacular setting. Indeed, I’m glad you said that Paricutin is only accessible by horse as, not only does it add to the natural and ancient feel of the place, it also is enough to stop the site being overrun with tourists which has sadly happened to quite a few volcanos throughout Latin America. The site of the church still standing amid the lava is a really humbling sight while your advice on how to go up and down the volcano will hopefully spare some people a few very nasty falls! Although I must admit, like you, I’d be a bit cautious of an apparently extinct volcano steaming!

I love the ruins of the church. It totally reminds me of West World. The maze is not for you. I wonder how Jenn’s knees would hold up descending a volcano and riding a horse for two hours. Isn’t it mind boggling that you can be at one of the seven natural wonders of the world and have the whole place to yourself. Outstanding

I heard that trekking on the ground full of volcanic ash will be like few steps up and down few steps. I’ve never trekked in such terrain before but I would like to try one day, it must be really challenging. Btw, how long did you take to reach the crater from the base?

Great piece! would love to experience such adventure someday, I have done many travel adventures before but what you have mentioned here is might be out of my scope. lol I do get scared of it. Still I would love to give it a shot someday. Cheers.

An amazing experience to get to explore this volcano without loads of tourists. I am sure after two hours on a horse you would be extremely sore and then the hike to follow! Love your photo of the still erected church in the lava filled village. What a beautiful sight!

Now this looks like an excellent place to visit! I learned so much about Paricutin from reading your post. I travelled to Mexico, but nowhere near as authentic as this. I’d love to recreate this journey myself one day!